New Orleans Child Custody & Visitation Attorneys

Decisions that involve child custody and visitation are some of the most difficult and most significant choices that separating couples must make. Unfortunately, charged emotions that often accompany the end of relationships and different yet sincerely-held beliefs regarding what is best for children can make it difficult for divorcing spouses and unmarried parents to find common ground.

The legal team at SVHC understands such struggles and strive to provide effective representation for every client and seek to achieve solutions that benefit both our clients and the children who are most affected by these decisions.

How Does Louisiana Decide Child Custody?

Louisiana's child custody statute explains that the court shall consider all relevant factors in determining the best interest of the child, including:

The emotional ties, including love and affection, between each parent and the children

The ability each parent to give the children affection, love, and guidance and to continue the education and nurturing of the children

The ability of each parent to provide the children with:

Food

Clothing

Medical care

Other material needs

The length of time the children have lived in a stable and relatively healthy environment and the desirability of maintaining that environment

The permanence of the proposed or existing custodial home

The moral wellbeing of each parent and how it may affect the children’s wellbeing

The physical and mental health of each parent

The home, school, and community history of the children

The preference of the children if the children are of sufficient age to express a preference as determined by the court

The willingness and ability of each parent to nurture a close relationship between the children and the other parent

The distance between the respective residences of the parents

The responsibility for the care and raising of the children exercised by each parent prior to separation

It is important to note that although the statute goes on to list 12 specific factors, it does not limit the court's discretion to consider other relevant factors or give more weight to some than others. In essence, this is a tricky balancing test that varies from case to case.

Take this first important step towards providing long-term stability for your children and talk with an experienced New Orleans family lawyer at our firm. The initial consultation is a time when all of your questions and uncertainties can be addressed, and you'll likely walk away from it feeling a lot more comfortable with your situation.